Denny's Is Taking A Day Off

Denny's, the restaurant that never closes, is locking its doors for just one day this year. That is, if the manager can remember where to find the keys.

When the Denny's parent company, TW Services of La Mirada, Calif., decided to give employees of 1,221 Denny's restaurants nationwide Christmas Day off, the first thing many of them had to do was hire a locksmith.

Because the restaurant is "always open" - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - most Denny's haven't had locks on their doors for years. At others, the locks were so rarely used, the keys have been lost.

Kevin Barrett, manager of the Denny's on Catasauqua Road, Allentown, is looking forward to having the holiday off for the first time in years. His Denny's just got its new locks. Aaron King, manager of the Denny's on Lehigh Street, Allentown, says his Denny's is expecting the locksmith this week.

King agreed that the company's decision to close for the day was "fantastic." Usually, he said, everyone works on Christmas. Not only would it be difficult to decide which employees should have the day off and which should work - they're all needed. "Christmas is always our busiest day," he said.

Dave Firestone, manager of the Denny's in North Wales, said he was surprised when he heard a television news report saying many of the restaurants didn't have locks on the doors. "I thought, 'That's ridiculous. Of course we have locks on the doors!' " That Denny's, it turns out, has been closed for remodeling in the past, hence locks were necessary, but this is the first time it has ever closed for a holiday.

Firestone, who's worked every Christmas for the past six years, is also looking forward to the day off. But, he says, working on the holiday wasn't so bad. Being the busiest day of the year, it goes quickly, and "It's always a very upbeat day."

And, though they'll be home for the holiday, Denny's employees are still thinking of their regular Christmas customers. Said King, "we wish all of them a merry Christmas."